High speed serial scan and read-out of keyboards

Claim 2

A keyboard operated machine including a plurality of actuatable keys each being operable from a normal inactive position to an actuated position and a plurality of pairs of normally spaced apart contacts each pair being individually associated with a key of the keyboard and responding to actuation of its key by engaging one another, a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of keys in the keyboard, means for sequentially electrically pulsing the pairs of contacts of the keyboard in succession and operable upon detection of an engaged pair of contacts for immediately entering a bit into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register, means for continuously repeating the sequential pulsing of said plurality of pairs of contacts at a rate such that more than one such pulsing cycle occurs during a normal actuation of a key of the keyboard, means for shifting a bit entered into the ''''one'''' stage of the register through register to the N+1 stage in timed relation to the successive pulsing of the contacts of the keyboard, and circuit gating means connected to the outputs of the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register but inhibiting the transmission of such an intelligence signal when a bit concurrently appears in both the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 3

In a keyboard operated machine including a plurality of actuatable keys each being operable from a normal inactive position to an actuated position in engagement with an actuated contact to send an intelligence signal, the invention which comprises: a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of keys in the keyboard; means for repetitively scanning the contacts of the keyboard in succession and operable upon detection of an actuated contact of the keyboard for instantly entering a bit Into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register; means for shifting the bit through the register in timed sequence with the scanning of the contacts of the keyboard and entering the bit into the N+1 stage thereof; and circuit gating means connected to the outputs of the ''''one'''' stage of the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device signifying the character of the actuated key when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register but inhibiting the transmission of such an intelligence signal when a bit appears concurrently both in the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 4

In a keyboard operated machine including a plurality of actuatable keys each being operable from a normal inactive position to an actuated position in engagement with an actuated contact to send an intelligence signal, the invention which comprises: a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of keys in the keyboard; means for repetitively scanning the contacts of the keyboard in succession and operable upon detection of an actuated contact of the keyboard for instantly entering a bit Into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register; means for shifting the bit through the register in timed sequence with the scanning of the contacts of the keyboard and entering the bit into the N+1 stage thereof; and circuit gating means connected to the outputs of the ''''one'''' stage of the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device signifying the character of the actuated key when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register but inhibiting the transmission of such an intelligence signal when a bit appears concurrently both in the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 5

The invention as set forth in claim 2 characterized in that the keys of the keyboard are manually actuatable and in that said scanning means repetitively scans the contacts of the keyboard at such a rate that more than one scanning cycle occurs during a normal manual actuation of the key.

Claim 6

In a code signal sender, a plurality of electrical contact pairs each pair being capable of assuming an opened circuit condition and a closed circuit condition; a shift register comprised of at least as many stages as is the number of said plurality of contact pairs; means for repetitively scanning said plurality of contact pairs in succession and upon detection of a closed pair for entering a bit into the first stage of the shift register and for shifting the bit through the register to the last stage thereof; and circuit gating means connected to the first and last stages of the shift register and being operable to transmit a signal representative of any closed pair of contacts detected by said scanning means when a bit appears only in the first stage of the shift register but being inoperable to signal in such manner when a bit is concurrently present in both the first and the last stages of the shift register.

Claim 7

In a code signal sender, a plurality of electrical contact pairs each pair being capable of assuming an opened circuit condition and a closed circuit condition; a shift register comprised of at least as many stages as is the number of said plurality of contact pairs; means for repetitively scanning said plurality of contact pairs in succession and upon detection of a closed pair for entering a bit into the first stage of the shift register and for shifting the bit through the register to the last stage thereof; and circuit gating means connected to the first and last stages of the shift register and being operable to transmit a signal representative of any closed pair of contacts detected by said scanning means when a bit appears only in the first stage of the shift register but being inoperable to signal in such manner when a bit is concurrently present in both the first and the last stages of the shift register.

Claim 8

In a code signal sender in accordance with claim 4 wherein the shift register is comprised of one more stage than is the number of the plurality of contact pairs.

Claim 9

In a code signal sender in accordance with claim 5 wherein said plurality of contact pairs are each individually associated with a different mechanically operable key of a keyboard and wherein means is responsive to the actuation of any one of said keys for causing its associated electrical contact pair to assume a circuit closed condition.

Claim 10

In a code signal sender in accordance with claim 6 wherein said scanning means repetitively scans the electrical contact pairs at such a rate that more than one scanning cycle occurs during the actuation of a key of the keyboard.

Claim 11

A keyboard operated machine including a keyboard having a plurality of actuatable keys each being operable from a normal inactive position to an actuated position and a plurality of pairs of normally spaced apart electrical contacts each pair being individually associated with a key of the keyboard and responding to actuation of its key by engaging one another, a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of keys in the keyboard, means for sequentially electrically pulsing the pairs of contacts of the keyboard in succession and operable upon detection of an engaged pair of contacts for immediately entering a bit into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register, means for repetitively cycling the sequential pulsing of said plurality of pairs of contacts at a rate such that more than one such pulsing cycle occurs during a normal actuation of a key of the keyboard, means for shifting a bit entered into the ''''one'''' stage of the register through the stages of the register to the N+1 stage in timed relation to the successive pulsings of the pairs of contacts of the keyboard, and circuit means connected to the ''''one'''' stage and to the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register but inhibiting the transmission of such an intelligence signal when a bit concurrently appears in both the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 12

A keyboard operated machine including a keyboard having a plurality of actuatable keys each being operable from a normal inactive position to an actuated position and a plurality of pairs of normally spaced apart electrical contacts each pair being individually associated with a key of the keyboard and responding to actuation of its key by engaging one another, a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of keys in the keyboard, means for sequentially electrically pulsing the pairs of contacts of the keyboard in succession and operable upon detection of an engaged pair of contacts for immediately entering a bit into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register, means for repetitively cycling the sequential pulsing of said plurality of pairs of contacts at a rate such that more than one such pulsing cycle occurs during a normal actuation of a key of the keyboard, means for shifting a bit entered into the ''''one'''' stage of the register through the stages of the register to the N+1 stage in timed relation to the successive pulsings of the pairs of contacts of the keyboard, and circuit means connected to the ''''one'''' stage and to the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register but inhibiting the transmission of such an intelligence signal when a bit concurrently appears in both the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 13

A code signal sender including, in combination; a plurality of pairs of electrical contacts, each contact pair representing a different character and being capable of assuming an opened circuit condition and a closed circuit condition; means for sequentially scanning the plurality of electrical contact pairs for detecting a closed condition of any one of said contact pairs and generating a signal in response thereto; means for generating an electrically coded representation of the character associated witch such a detected closed contact pair; means operatively connected to said plurality of electrical contact pairs and responsive to said signal signifying the closed condition of any one of the contact pairs thereof for temporarily storing that signal until the contact pair producing such signal is scanned again; means operatively connected to said storage means and operative to sense the initial storage of said signal responsive to such sensing for causing the transmission of the coded representation of the character associated with the closed contact pair responsible for the storage of the signal; and means for sensing the presence of the signal in said storage means during a subsequent scan of the plurality of contact pairs for effectively preventing a repetitive transmission of the coded representation of the character associated with the closed contact pair responsible for the stored signal.

Claim 14

A code signal sender including, in combination; a plurality of pairs of electrical contacts, each contact pair representing a different character and being capable of assuming an opened circuit condition and a closed circuit condition; means for sequentially scanning the plurality of electrical contact pairs for detecting a closed condition of any one of said contact pairs and generating a signal in response thereto; means for generating an electrically coded representation of the character associated witch such a detected closed contact pair; means operatively connected to said plurality of electrical contact pairs and responsive to said signal signifying the closed condition of any one of the contact pairs thereof for temporarily storing that signal until the contact pair producing such signal is scanned again; means operatively connected to said storage means and operative to sense the initial storage of said signal responsive to such sensing for causing the transmission of the coded representation of the character associated with the closed contact pair responsible for the storage of the signal; and means for sensing the presence of the signal in said storage means during a subsequent scan of the plurality of contact pairs for effectively preventing a repetitive transmission of the coded representation of the character associated with the closed contact pair responsible for the stored signal.

Claim 15

In a code signal sender in accordance with claim 9 wherein the signal storage means is a serial register comprised of at least one more stage than is the number of the plurality of contact pairs.

Claim 16

In a code signal sender in accordance with claim 10 wherein each contact pair of said plurality of contact pairs is individually associated with a key of a keyboard and wherein means is responsive to the actuation of any one of said keys for causing its associated electrical contact pair to assume a circuit closed condition.

Claim 17

In a code signal sender in accordance with claim 11 wherein said scanning means repetitively scans said electrical contact pairs at such a rate that more than one scanning cycle occurs during normal actuation of a key of the keyboard.

Claim 18

In a keyboard operated machine including a plurality of actuatable keys each being operable from a normal inactive position to an actuated position and further including a plurality of switches each associated with an individual one of the keys and responsive to the actuation of its associated key to change from circuit opened condition to circuit closed condition thereby to send an intelligence signal, the invention which comprises: a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of keys in the keyboard; means for repetitively scanning said plurality of switches in succession and operable upon detection of a switch in circuit closed condition for instantly entering a bit into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register; means for shifting the bit through the shift register in timed sequence with the scanning of the switches and entering the bit into the N+1 stage thereof; and means connected to the outputs of the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device which is significant of the actuated key when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register but inhibiting the transmission of such an intelligence signal when a bit appears concurrently both in the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 19

In a keyboard operated machine including a plurality of actuatable keys each being operable from a normal inactive position to an actuated position and further including a plurality of switches each associated with an individual one of the keys and responsive to the actuation of its associated key to change from circuit opened condition to circuit closed condition thereby to send an intelligence signal, the invention which comprises: a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of keys in the keyboard; means for repetitively scanning said plurality of switches in succession and operable upon detection of a switch in circuit closed condition for instantly entering a bit into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register; means for shifting the bit through the shift register in timed sequence with the scanning of the switches and entering the bit into the N+1 stage thereof; and means connected to the outputs of the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device which is significant of the actuated key when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register but inhibiting the transmission of such an intelligence signal when a bit appears concurrently both in the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 20

The invention as set forth in claim 13 characterized in that the keys of the Keyboard are manually actuatable and in that said scanning means repetitively scans the switches of the keyboard at such a rate that more than one scanning cycle occurs during a normal manual actuation of a key.

Claim 21

In a code signal sender, a plurality of electrical switches each being capable of assuming an open circuit condition and a closed circuit condition; a shift register comprised of at least as many stages as is the number of said plurality of switches; means for repetitively scanning said plurality of switches in succession and operable upon detection of a switch in closed circuit condition to enter a bit into the first stage of the shift register and for shifting the bit through the register to the last stage thereof; and means connected to the first and the last stages of the shift register and being operable to transmit a signal representative of any such switch in closed circuit condition detected by said scanning means when a bit appears only in the first stage of the shift register, but being inoperable to transmit in such manner when a bit is concurrently present in both the first and the last stages of the shift register.

Claim 22

In a code signal sender, a plurality of electrical switches each being capable of assuming an open circuit condition and a closed circuit condition; a shift register comprised of at least as many stages as is the number of said plurality of switches; means for repetitively scanning said plurality of switches in succession and operable upon detection of a switch in closed circuit condition to enter a bit into the first stage of the shift register and for shifting the bit through the register to the last stage thereof; and means connected to the first and the last stages of the shift register and being operable to transmit a signal representative of any such switch in closed circuit condition detected by said scanning means when a bit appears only in the first stage of the shift register, but being inoperable to transmit in such manner when a bit is concurrently present in both the first and the last stages of the shift register.

Claim 23

In a code signal sender in accordance with claim 15 wherein the shift register has one more stage than the number of switches in said plurality of switches.

Claim 24

An electrical signal sender including a plurality of electrical switches each being operable to assume a normal inactive condition and a temporary active condition; a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of said plurality of switches; means for sequentially electrically pulsing said plurality of electrical switches in succession and operable upon detection of a switch in a temporary active condition for immediately entering a bit into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register; means for repetitively cycling the sequential pulsing of said plurality of switches at a rate such that more than one such pulsing cycle occurs during the temporary active condition assumed by any one of the plurality of switches; means for shifting a bit entered into the ''''one'''' stage of the register through the stages of the register to the N+1 stage in timed relation to the successive pulsings of the plurality of switches; and circuit means connected to the ''''one'''' stage and to the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register, but being inoperable to transmit such an intelligence signal when a bit concurrently appears in both the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 25

An electrical signal sender including a plurality of electrical switches each being operable to assume a normal inactive condition and a temporary active condition; a shift register of N+1 stages wherein N is the number of said plurality of switches; means for sequentially electrically pulsing said plurality of electrical switches in succession and operable upon detection of a switch in a temporary active condition for immediately entering a bit into the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register; means for repetitively cycling the sequential pulsing of said plurality of switches at a rate such that more than one such pulsing cycle occurs during the temporary active condition assumed by any one of the plurality of switches; means for shifting a bit entered into the ''''one'''' stage of the register through the stages of the register to the N+1 stage in timed relation to the successive pulsings of the plurality of switches; and circuit means connected to the ''''one'''' stage and to the N+1 stage of the shift register and being operable to transmit an intelligence signal to a utilization device when a bit appears only in the ''''one'''' stage of the shift register, but being inoperable to transmit such an intelligence signal when a bit concurrently appears in both the ''''one'''' stage and the N+1 stage of the shift register.

Claim 26

A code signal sender including, in combination; a plurality of electrical switches each representing a different character and being capable of assuming a normal inactive condition and a temporary active condition; means for sequentially scanning the plurality of electrical switches for detecting a temporary active condition of any one of said switches and generating a signal in response thereto; means for generating an electrically coded representation of the character associated with such a detected active conditioned switch; means operatively connected to said plurality of electrical switches and responsive to an aforesaid signal signifying the active condition of any one of the switches thereof for temporarily storing that signal until the switch producing such signal is scanned again; means operatively coupled to said character representation generating means and to said storage means and being operable to sense the initial storage of said signal in the storage means and being responsive to such sensing for causing the character representation generating means to transmit the coded representation of the character which is associated with the detected active conditioned switch to a utilization device; and means For sensing the presence of the signal in said storage means during a subsequent scan of the plurality of switches for effectively preventing a repeated transmission of the coded representation of the character associated with the active conditioned switch responsible for the signal.

Claim 27

A code signal sender including, in combination; a plurality of electrical switches each representing a different character and being capable of assuming a normal inactive condition and a temporary active condition; means for sequentially scanning the plurality of electrical switches for detecting a temporary active condition of any one of said switches and generating a signal in response thereto; means for generating an electrically coded representation of the character associated with such a detected active conditioned switch; means operatively connected to said plurality of electrical switches and responsive to an aforesaid signal signifying the active condition of any one of the switches thereof for temporarily storing that signal until the switch producing such signal is scanned again; means operatively coupled to said character representation generating means and to said storage means and being operable to sense the initial storage of said signal in the storage means and being responsive to such sensing for causing the character representation generating means to transmit the coded representation of the character which is associated with the detected active conditioned switch to a utilization device; and means For sensing the presence of the signal in said storage means during a subsequent scan of the plurality of switches for effectively preventing a repeated transmission of the coded representation of the character associated with the active conditioned switch responsible for the signal.